While Somerset is expected to release their next two player signings on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, those moves would not appear to be the highest-profile signings in the woodwork. Not even close.

According to Texas TV station Fox 26, seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady, 34, has expressed an interest in signing with the Atlantic League’s Sugar Land Skeeters. According to the report, McGrady’s fastball sits in the mid-to-high 80’s and he easily learned a slider.

In a separate report, this via the Houston Chronicle, Roger Clemens — who pitched for the Skeeters several years ago, and whose son, Koby, has been a standout catcher for the team — has advised McGrady in his efforts to pitch professionally.

The Atlantic League has long been the home of publicity stunts — see: Clemens outings with the Skeeters. This is somewhere between that and some of the incredibly regrettable early years of the league, in which events like former New Jersey Devils defenseman Ken Daneyko actually suiting up and playing for the Newark Bears happened.

McGrady, who has no prior professional baseball experience, retired from professional basketball following the 2012-13 season and is considered a candidate for the Hall of Fame.

Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com

About Mike Ashmore

A lifelong resident of the Three Bridges section of Readington, Mike Ashmore is a 2001 graduate of Hunterdon Central Regional High School who began his career covering professional sports two years later. Since then, he's covered countless other teams and events ranging from the Stanley Cup Final to the UFC as a freelancer working in the area. Mike will add to his over 450 games of experience covering the Somerset Patriots by finishing out the season as MyCentralJersey.com's beat writer for the team.

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About the Author

Mike AshmoreA lifelong resident of the Three Bridges section of Readington, Mike Ashmore is a 2001 graduate of Hunterdon Central Regional High School who began his career covering professional sports two years later. Since then, he's covered countless other teams and events ranging from the Stanley Cup Final to the UFC as a freelancer working in the area. Mike will add to his over 450 games of experience covering the Somerset Patriots by finishing out the season as MyCentralJersey.com's beat writer for the team.E-mail Mike

Ryan DunleavyRyan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.E-mail Ryan